The Hebrew zodiac is commonly described through twelve mazalot, corresponding to the same zodiacal sequence used in Western astrology. Sefer Yetzirah places these twelve constellations alongside twelve Hebrew months and twelve simple Hebrew letters.
The twelve mazalot
| Western sign | Hebrew mazal | Hebrew month | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | Taleh — Lamb | Nissan | ה |
| Taurus | Shor — Ox | Iyar | ו |
| Gemini | Te'omim — Twins | Sivan | ז |
| Cancer | Sartan — Crab | Tammuz | ח |
| Leo | Aryeh — Lion | Av | ט |
| Virgo | Betulah — Virgin | Elul | י |
| Libra | Moznayim — Scales | Tishrei | ל |
| Scorpio | Akrav — Scorpion | Cheshvan | נ |
| Sagittarius | Keshet — Bow | Kislev | ס |
| Capricorn | Gedi — Kid / goat | Tevet | ע |
| Aquarius | Deli — Bucket | Shevat | צ |
| Pisces | Dagim — Fishes | Adar | ק |
Is the Hebrew zodiac a different sky?
No. The Hebrew names refer to the same zodiacal constellations. What changes is the cultural and textual framework around them: Hebrew naming, the Jewish calendar, letter correspondences and later Jewish mystical interpretation.
Why a Hebrew month cannot be reduced to a Gregorian month
Nissan is not simply “April,” Tishrei is not simply “September,” and so on. The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, and months move against the Gregorian calendar. A correct birth conversion uses the actual year and, near the evening boundary, the local time.
Mazal does not have to mean fixed fate
The history of Jewish thought repeatedly debates how much influence the stars can have. Contemporary Kabbalistic astrology usually treats mazal as influence or pattern rather than unavoidable destiny, leaving free will central.
How Ava Lux uses the zodiac layer
Ava Lux retains the Western natal chart as the astronomical base, then adds the Hebrew month and letter as a second symbolic time-language. The two systems are read together rather than collapsed into one.
Sources and textual boundary
- Sefer Yetzirah 5 — Sefaria
- Hebrew Months — Chabad
- Hebcal — Jewish calendar and Hebrew date converter
Ava Lux editorial rule: source texts, later Kabbalistic interpretation, modern astrology and the Ava Lux reading method are not treated as if they were the same layer. Where traditions disagree or textual versions vary, the page says so.